"Hurry up, Jerry! We can rest farther ahead!"
Thanks to Snape's miraculous potion, the cat ears on Hermione's head were the only part of her that had yet to return to normal. All her other transformations had been completely reversed.
That made her unable to bear the stifling atmosphere of the Hospital Wing any longer.
So, before the holidays ended, Hermione eagerly dragged Jerry off to Hogsmeade.
The night before, a sudden blizzard had draped Hogsmeade in a blanket of pure white Snow, as though magic had dusted the entire village with a silvery glow.
Hermione and Jerry slowly made their way through the Snow into this fairy-tale world. Their breath turned into wisps of white mist in the cold air, mingling with the falling Snowflakes.
The shops lining the street still bore their elaborate decorations from Christmas a few days earlier. Colorful lights twinkled, creating a warm, romantic atmosphere, while warm air carrying the sweet scent of freshly baked gingerbread wafted toward them from the restaurants.
"Your hat!" Jerry reminded her softly, looking at Hermione as she stared intently into a shop window.
"Jerry, this hat is too big! Couldn't you have found a smaller one?" Hermione reluctantly picked up the hat and put it back on.
"Stop complaining. I deliberately found a big hat. Besides covering your ears, it'll keep the professors who come here from recognizing you! Don't forget we're only second-years, even if we're still on holiday!"
"No wonder you've got your hood up too. You look like a Dark Wizard!" Hermione muttered.
The two of them wandered along the streets of Hogsmeade, stopping here and there. There were only a handful of shops, yet Jerry somehow spent the entire afternoon browsing them with Hermione!
Finally, as evening approached, Jerry and Hermione reached Dervish and Banges